Control-lever attachment



Aug. 25, 1925. J. W. SMITH CONTROL LEVER ATTACHMENT Filed DeC. 21, 1925 Patented Aug. 25, 1925.

UNITED STATES JAMES W. SMITH, 0F DEXTER, MISSOURI.

CONTROL-LEVER ATTACHMENT.

Application filed December 21, 1923. Serial No. 682,000.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WV. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at DeX- ter, in the county of Stoddard and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Control-Lever Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a control lever attachment designed primarily fon use on the gas and spark control levers usually located close to the steering wheelof an automobile.

Heretofore when it has been desired to shift one or both of these levers it has usual ly been necessary to change the position of the hand or hands grasping the wheel in order that the control lever or levers might be reached and moved. I

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an attachment to be placed on each of the control levers whereby either lever can be shifted ordinarily without changing the position of the hand or hands upon the steering wheel.

A further object is to provide an attachment of this character which is simple in construction, can be applied readily, and will not interfere with the proper manipulation of the wheel.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the pre ferred form of the invention has been shown.

I11 said drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the steering wheel having the present improvements combined therewith.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one of the attachments inverted.

Figure 3 is a section 011 line 33 Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a sleeve from one end of which is extended an arcuate frame 2 preferably formed of stiff wire, the lower member of the frame being fluted as shown at 3 to provide finger receiving recesses. The arcuate member can be of any desired length and the sleeve 1 is preferably located nearer one end of the member than the other. One of these devices is provided for each control lever. In Fig. 1 the steering wheel has been shown at W and the two controlling levers have been shown at L and L. The sleeve 1 of one of the attachments is placed over the end of each control lever and, if desired, can be fastened thereto, by means of a set screw &. When the sleeves are thus located they extend underthe rim of the wheel and support the arcuate member 52 closeto the periphery of the wheel with the fluted portion situated where one of the fingers of the driver can readily engage the arcuate portion and shift it to move the control lever.

It is preferred to make the arcuate members 2 of such length that some portion of each of them can be readily engaged and shifted by one of the hands of the driver when in normal position on the steering wheel.

The device is very simple, durable and compact, is cheap to manufacture, and can be applied to the control levers without requiring the service of a skilled mechanic.

Vhat is claimed is 1. An attachment of the class described including a sleeve for the reception of the outer end portion of a control lever, and an arcuate portion connected to and extending downwardly from one end of the sleeve, said arcuate portion having its lower edge fluted in the direction of its length, the sleeve be ing disposed closer to one end of the arcuate portion than to the other.

2. The combination with the steering wheel of an automobile and a control lever supported thereunder, of an attachment including a sleeve detachably and adjustably mounted upon the free end portion of the lever, and an arcuate frame secured to the outer end of the sleeve and extending down wardly therefrom, said frame being concentrio with the axis of rotation of the wheel and having its upper edge supported adjacent to but spaced from the periphery of the wheel, the lower edge of the frame being fluted in the direction of its length, said sleeve being disposed nearer one end of the frame than the other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

JAMES W. SMITH. 

